Somerville High School 222 Davenport street


Interested students should see their guidance counselors for application forms



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Interested students should see their guidance counselors for application forms.

PEER LEADERSHIP
The Peer Leadership seminar for 9th grade students is a non-credit class. The students meet weekly for group discussions focused on academic and social pressures, relationships with peers, parents, and faculty; and, problems associated with drugs, sex, and alcohol. This class is conducted by specially trained 12th grade students who are under the supervision of Peer Leader Advisors. This seminar is recommended for all 9th grade students as a non-credit elective during their lunch period.

INDEPENDENT STUDY
The Somerville School District defines Independent Study as “self-directed and self-initiated study”. R 2320 states “It (Independent study) is not a form of teacher directed or assigned project. The teacher-advisor may assist the pupil in the development of a topic or an idea, but the impetus must come from the pupil and much of the decision making is the pupil’s.” The Independent Study program is designed to provide an opportunity to achieve one or more of the following objectives:


  • Individual learning experiences not included in the existing curriculum

  • Development of individual responsibility and self-discipline

  • Development of individual interests

  • Pupil-structured learning experience

  • Individual creativity

  • Career exploration

  • Interdisciplinary learning

  • Development of inquiry skills


Eligibility:


  • Open to all 11th and 12th grade students;

  • Major consideration for selection will be past performance and good academic standing at the time of application;

  • Final decisions on approval of IS applications will be made by a committee consisting of the applicant’s counselor, the faculty advisor, the Superintendent, or designee on the subject area, and the building principal;

  • The applicant, in addition to a written application must make an oral application presentation to this committee before any final decision is made.

Board of Education approval will be sought during the summer regularly scheduled meeting.



SPECIAL SERVICES
Students receiving services will meet annually with their case manager to determine course selections. Students identified by the Child Study Team in need of services may complete some of their course work in a resource center program and/or in an inclusion setting. The resource center program serves students who will learn an academic subject more successfully in a small class setting. The inclusion program serves students in an academic subject with support from a certified special education teacher. Depending upon the needs of students in a given year, program offerings may vary and include special sections of other courses. Students earn credit toward graduation for each course successfully completed in either setting.


TESTING
Grade 9:

  • Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) – October (does not qualify the student for NMSQT)

  • End of Course Biology Competency Test (NJBCT) – May


Grade 10:

  • Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) – October (does not qualify the student for NMSQT)


Grade 11:

  • High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) - State required test all students must pass in order to graduate from high school

  • Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) – October - National Merit Qualifying Test (NMQT)


Grades 11 & 12:

  • SAT – offered at Somerville High School.

  • SAT II – Individual subject tests in areas such as chemistry, physics, math level 1, math level 2, math level 3, and/or world language.

  • American College Testing (ACT) – Competitor of SAT. Popular test for southern and Midwestern colleges, but increasingly recognized by schools in the east. Students should refer to individual school’s application profile to determine the acceptability of the ACT.

  • Advanced Placement – Students enrolled in AP courses (Calculus, Statistics, US History, Government and Politics, English Literature, Computer Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, European History, French and/or Spanish) are encouraged to take the AP test given in May of the year the course is taken. Enrollment in an AP course is not required to take an AP test. Successful performance on the test may earn college credit for the student.


See your counselor for additional information and explanation of the tests indicated.

HIGH SCHOOL PROFICIENCY ASSESSMENT
All students are required to test proficiently on the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) in Mathematics and Language Arts to be eligible to receive a state-approved diploma. The test is administered to all 11th graders in the spring of each year. In addition, transfer students from outside New Jersey must test proficiently on the state test. Students who are below the minimum passing score on the state test will receive remedial instruction in math and/or language arts to enhance skills in which the student is deficient. In addition, students not proficient as determined by the Grade 8 Proficiency Assessment (NJASK 8) may receive remedial instruction.


SUMMER SCHOOL POLICY



  1. To make up a subject failed in regular school session:




    1. A student must receive approval from the Guidance Office before enrolling in summer school. An approved list of summer school programs is located in the Guidance Office and on the school website.

    2. Five credits for a subject repeated and passed in summer school will be granted if the course has a minimum of 60 clock hours.

    3. The grade earned in summer school will be recorded on the permanent record and will be included in class ranking; the original grade remains on the transcript and is also included in the ranking process.

    4. It is the student’s responsibility to have appropriate grade reports forwarded to the Guidance Office upon completion of the summer school course.




  1. Courses to be taken for acceleration: (for the student who wishes to earn credits outside of our school offerings for personal advancement)




    1. A student must receive the approval of the high school principal before selecting a subject or enrolling in a summer school.

    2. The student must take 120 clock hours for a full year’s credit.

    3. Pursuance and completion of courses taken for acceleration does not guarantee eligibility for graduation or receipt of a diploma in less than four years.

    4. It is the student’s responsibility to have appropriate grade reports forwarded to the Guidance Office upon completion of the summer school course; however, the grade will not be computed in class rank.




  1. Course to be taken for enrichment or depth:




    1. These courses are usually taken by the student for personal improvement and for greater knowledge and experience and are not listed on the transcript.

    2. No credit points will be awarded for these courses.


ATTENDANCE POLICY
The Somerville Board of Education recognizes its responsibility to provide a thorough and efficient education for every student within the district in keeping with the prevailing laws of the State of New Jersey. In order for administrators and teachers to successfully fulfill their responsibilities to students, it is essential that all students accept their responsibility to attend school as scheduled, and that parents/guardians support and reinforce their child’s regular attendance. The State of New Jersey and the Board of Education have established competencies that must be met in order to receive a Somerville High School Diploma. Students must successfully complete 120 credits in both required and elective courses, test proficiently in all sections of the HSPA, and meet attendance requirements to fully gain the educational and social benefits of group situations. The Board of Education has revised the student attendance policy in accordance with the newly revised State of New Jersey policy regulating student attendance. In order to conform to state regulations and provide for legitimate student absences from school the Board of Education has defined “excused” versus “unexcused” absences from school. This is not a permissive policy establishing or licensing a limit of days that may be missed with no harm.
“Excused” absence is defined as a student’s absence from school for a full day or more than ten (10) minutes of a class period. Absences will be excused with a parent/guardian written statement and official documentation* as follows:


  • Personal illness (health care provider documentation),

  • Professional appointments that cannot be scheduled during non-school hours (health care provider documentation),

  • Somerville High School curricular/co-curricular activities held during the school day or requiring early dismissal,

  • Court appearance (court notice to appear),

  • Driver’s test (appointment card or license documentation),

  • Death in the immediate family: parent, grandparent, sister, brother, aunt, uncle (maximum five days),

  • New Jersey state approved religious holidays pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36-14,

  • College visitations; juniors and seniors only maximum 3 days (documented by a statement from the admissions office),

  • Quarantines or uncoverable and/or weeping skin lesions,

  • Suspension from school,

  • Serious personal or family problems upon approval of administrator in charge of attendance, and

  • An absence for a reason not listed above, but deemed excused by the administrator in charge of attendance.

*Parent/guardian notes and official documentation must be received in the main office within 72 hours of the student returning to school.


Though a student may be absent with parental approval for reasons other than those listed above, the absence will be defined as “unexcused” to conform to state regulations requiring school districts to define “excused” and “unexcused” absences. It is also recognized that the parents/guardians may not always take their child to the doctor every time he/she is sick. The district assumes that the “unexcused” absences will be used when it is necessary to miss school and documentation can not be provided. “Unexcused” absences are not considered truancy unless the student is absent without parental consent.


Absences without parental approval will be considered truancy. In addition, a pupil will be considered truant if he/she:

  • Leaves school without permission when school is still in session,

  • Leaves school at lunch and does not return without the permission of the school nurse/administrator,

  • Leaves class because of illness and does not report to the school nurse, or

  • Is present in school but is absent from class without approval. Such truancy from class is a “class cut.”


Under no circumstance should a student use a cell phone to contact a parent/guardian to be picked up from school without reporting to the nurse’s office. (Cell phones are not to be in use during the school day.) If the nurse is unavailable the student is to report to the main office.
Absences for the following reasons will be recorded as “unexcused”:

  • Employment other than school-approved work assignments,

  • Family travel/vacation,**

  • Performance of household or babysitting duties, or

  • Travel as required as a member of an athletic team not part of the Somerville High School athletics program (these are not considered college visitations).

** A parent or guardian taking a student out of school for vacations during the normal course of the school year is an illegal absence pursuant to New Jersey Statutes Annotated (NJSA) 8A:36-16 and New Jersey Administrative Code (NJAC) 6:20-1.3. These statutes state that students must be in school all the hours of all the days that school is in session. One serious impact of unauthorized absence is in the area of homework. Many parents request that the teacher give homework assignments prior to vacation, but for the teacher to do so puts the teacher and the school district in a position of condoning the leave from school. Therefore, if a student chooses to be absent from school, any work that is missed must be completed by the student after he/she returns to school.


Student absences in high school are recorded on a course by course basis. A student may be denied course credit when he/she has more than ten (10) “unexcused” absences in a full year course. Exceptions to this rule may be made for students who have demonstrated through completion of assignments and assessments that they have mastered the proficiencies established for the course and have participated in a credit completion session to regain the denied credit. Course completions sessions may be provided if the student has not exceeded fifteen (15) unexcused absences in a full year course.

A student who is in danger of losing course credit due to exceeding the attendance policy must remain in the class to receive a grade of “incomplete.” If the student does not remain in the class the student will not be allowed to make up the course in summer school.


A student arriving in any class after the first ten (10) minutes of the class period will be recorded as absent for that class. If the reason for arriving late is a result of any of the reasons defined as “excused” (see “excused” absences) the absence will be recorded as an excused absence providing that the student presents the appropriate documentation.
Early dismissal from school can disrupt the educational process and cause the student to miss valuable instructional time. Therefore, the school will “excuse” a student’s early dismissal only as defined as “excused” (see above). Early dismissal for any other reasons will be deemed personal and will be recorded as “unexcused” unless excused by an administrator.
ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES: PARENT RESPONSIBILITES


  1. Parents are required to call the attendance office (243-1547) by 8:15 a.m. if the student is going to be absent from school. Without this notification the attendance officer, Mr. O’Donnell, will telephone the home of any student absent from school.




  1. Parents of students who are on the Chronic Illness List must telephone the school nurse each day the student is absent/late due to the chronic condition and the nurse will relay that information to the attendance officer. Failure to do so will result in the absence being recorded as unrelated to the chronic condition.




  1. A parent/guardian who anticipates a future absence because of an illness of five (5) days or more must notify the administrator in charge of attendance so that home instruction can be arranged through the Guidance Office. If the absence due to illness is short term, fewer than five (5) days, the student’s teachers will provide homework. The parent/guardian must contact the Guidance Office to request assignments.




  1. Any lengthy absence, 10 days or more, the student must withdraw from school.


ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES: STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES


  1. Upon returning to school, students are to complete a “pink slip” in homeroom stating the date(s) and reasons for their absence(s) from school. The pink slip, parent note, and official documentation (necessary for the absence(s) to be excused) must be given to the homeroom teacher for submission to the main office.




  1. Upon returning to school, students must arrange with their teachers to make up any assignments or assessments missed during the absence from school. Work must be made up within a time equal to the time absent. Responsibility for making up work and scheduling any necessary assistance from the teacher(s) rests with the student.


ATTENDANCE: PARENTAL NOTIFICATION AND RESPONSIVE ACTION PLAN(S)


  1. When a student has four (4) “unexcused” absences in a full year course the parent/guardian will receive a notification letter and a copy will be sent to the guidance counselor for follow-up.




  1. When a student has seven (7) “unexcused” absences in a full year course the parent/guardian will receive a certified letter indicating the number of absences. A copy of the letter will be sent to the guidance counselor for follow-up. The administrator in charge of attendance will conduct an investigation into the reasons for the “unexcused” absences. It may be necessary for the parents/guardians to meet with the administrator to develop an action plan to assist the student in maintaining regular school attendance. Action plans may include:




    • Referral to the Intervention and Referral services team (I&RS), pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-8;

    • Testing, assessments, or evaluations of the student’s academic, behavioral, and health needs;

    • Consideration of an alternate placement;

    • Referral to a community-based social and health care provider agency or other community resources;

    • Referral to the court program designated by the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts; and/or

    • Referral to the Division of Youth and Family Services in accordance with the provisions of the N.J.S.A.9:6 et. Seq. and N.J.A.C.6A:16-11, if a potentially missing or child abuse situation is detected.




  1. When a student has ten (10) “unexcused” absences in a full year course the parent/guardian will receive a certified letter indicating the number of absences. The administrator will investigate the reasons for the absences and may require the parents/guardians to meet with the administrator to adjust the action plan developed as outlined in #2 above to assist the student in maintaining regular school attendance.




  1. When a student exceeds ten (10) “unexcused” absences in a full year course the parents/guardians will receive a certified letter notifying them that their child has exceeded the attendance policy in “unexcused” absences. An Attendance Appeal petition will be enclosed with this letter for the student and/or parents/guardians to complete if they feel there are extenuating circumstances that have prevented the student from attending school on a regular basis.


ATTENDANCE APPEALS
A Permanent five (5) member Attendance Appeals Committee has been established to review any written Attendance Appeal petition regarding excess absences. Petitions must be presented to the office of the administrator in charge of attendance no later than ten (10) school days after parents/guardians receive notification of loss of credit due to absences. Keep in mind that appeals deal with the attendance record of the entire semester or the entire year. Appeals are to be limited to situations in which unforeseen factors have created hardships. Being late to first period will rarely be accepted as a hardship.

ART
Somerville High School requires one year of fine arts study for graduation. The Art course sequence is aligned with the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards, district curricula, and the statewide assessment system.
The 3-D Experience

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12 Length of Course: Academic Year
The 3-D experience is a studio course that introduces work in the 3rd dimension while exploring the Elements and Principles of Art and Design. 3D Form is examined through the hands-on creation of works of art using a variety of media and techniques. 3D artists and artworks, various art styles such as Realism, Abstract, and Non-objective styles as well as such periods of Art History as the Renaissance, Impressionism, and Surrealism are examined for their cultural influence and relevance to contemporary 3 dimensional Artworks. Technology based sketchbooks are a requirement of this course.
The 3-D Experience Course Options


Course

Title

Prerequisite

Requirements

Credits Earned

The 3-D Experience

None

5



Exploring Art

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12 Length of Course: Academic Year
The Exploring Art course introduces students to the foundations of visual art. Two- and three-dimensional art forms are studied through the application of the elements of art and principles of design. The cultural and historical impact of evolving art styles is examined and iconic artists and their master works serve as the focal point of discussions pertaining to the influence of society on the work of artists throughout history. Maintenance of a work journal and a personal portfolio affords students the opportunity to reflect on their learning and critique their work.
Successful completion of Exploring Art fulfills the New Jersey graduation requirement in Visual Art.
Exploring Art Course Options


Course

Title

Prerequisite

Requirements

Credits Earned

Exploring Art

None

5

Communications Design

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12 Length of Course: Academic Year
Communications Design introduces basic usage of digital cameras and enhancement of photographs using software applications. Demonstrations and assignments provide students with the ability to compose, edit, and retouch digital photographs. Students explore and create printed and web-based projects through Adobe applications. The skills and knowledge acquired in Digital Photography transfer to applications such as publishing newsletters, web site production and capturing sports and other school and real-world events through photography.
Communication Design Course Options


Course

Title

Prerequisite

Requirements

Credits Earned

Communication Design

None

5




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